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Driver's death leads to changes

This June 28, 2014 photo provided by Empire Super Sprints, Inc., shows sprint car driver Kevin Ward Jr., at the Merrittville Speedway in Thorold, Canada. Ward was killed Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014 at the Canandaigua Motorsports Park in Central Square, N.Y., when the car being driven by Tony Stewart struck the 20-year-old who had climbed from his crashed car and was on the darkened dirt track trying to confront Stewart following a bump with Stewart one lap earlier.(Photo: AP Photo/Empire Super Sprints, Inc.)

Story Highlights

Death of Kevin Ward Jr. has raised issue of driver safety following incidents

Tracks in Syracuse area made rules changes this week

Chemung Speedrome fined drivers for leaving their cars during racing in June

Big changes are taking place at short tracks around the country in the wake of the death of Empire Sprint Car racer Kevin Ward Jr.

Ward, of Port Leyden, N.Y., was struck and killed by the sprint car of three-time NASCAR Sprint Cup champion Tony Stewart on Saturday night at Canandaigua Motorsports Park. The incident happened after Ward, 20, exited his car and tried to confront Stewart following a crash at the half-mile dirt oval.

"It's unfortunate, because if you look back at it, it happens way more than it should happen," said Ray Hodge, race director of Chemung Speedrome.

Expressions of frustration like what happened with Ward are common in racing, from local tracks up to the top divisions of NASCAR. Most tracks either don't have or don't enforce rules when it comes to drivers leaving their cars while on the track.

"After this, that's going to change, I believe everywhere," Hodge said. "But if you are going to do it, you have to enforce it."

Two tracks north of Syracuse already have made changes. Brewerton Speedway and Fulton Speedway announced on their websites Monday that drivers will be required to remain in their cars after accidents.

The Speedrome, a three-eighths of a mile paved oval, is one track that has always had a similar rule in place requiring drivers to stay with their cars, but had a reputation for not enforcing it. That changed in early June of this year when fines were levied on two drivers in separate divisions on the same night.

"It's something that we have always had at both Chemung and at Spencer (Speedway)," said John White, owner of both tracks. "We don't want anyone leaving their car and if they do they better have a good reason. ... It's all about safety."

White said the first infraction is $100, but a second one is at least five times more.

One of drivers fined in June was Lee Sharpsteen of Elmira, who said Wednesday the track "has done a better job of enforcing the rule."

Sharpsteen, the current points leader in the Super Stock division, left his car after he was wrecked and ran after members of the suspected team in the pit area.

"When you are angry after someone wrecks your car, it's hard to just sit in your car," Sharpsteen said. "I think everybody is now thinking twice before they overreact to a situation like that. It's definitely working.

"The rule they have in place at Chemung is a good one. It would be good for every track to have it in place."

Hodge said Chemung has not had any more incidents where drivers have left their cars since the fines were handed out.

"We had to get things under control and nip that in the bud early and it worked," Hodge said. "Those things have gone away and we haven't had the problems that we had earlier this season. ... Everything has been running smoothly."

Hodge said even if other tracks begin enforcing a similar rule, incidents will still happen from time to time.

"It's still going to happen in the heat of the moment," he said. "It (the rule) will cut it down, because if they stop and think about the consequences for one second that is all it takes."

Hodge said tracks should make the consequences big. "You are dealing with a life or death thing and you are putting a lot of people in jeopardy," he said.

Hodge likes the Brewerton and Fulton rule, saying it goes one step further than theirs.

"If someone wrecks their car, our intent was to settle them down before they get to the point where it turns into a confrontation," Hodge said. "We didn't go quite as far as saying you have to stay in your car; you have to stay with your car."

Hodge said when he meets with White on Thursday they will discuss toughening their rule.

"As a track promoter, you have a responsibility to do something more and I think we have to do that too," Hodge said. "We are going to do something, but I'm not sure what."

Hodge said he likes the part of the Brewerton rule that states a red flag will be waved to stop the action when a driver leaves the car.

"It's a safety net for the driver who does decide to get out of his car," he said.

Hodge said that any rules changes considered for Chemung could be introduced in a drivers meeting before Friday's races.

Ron Levanduski is the Star-Gazette's racing columnist. E-mail him at rlevandu.gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @ SGRLevanduski.